Page 40 of The Black Dragon

Naked, he padded over to her jewelry box. Light illuminating theentire room. Justin withdrew the amber crystal hanging on a silver chain. He touched the stone, winced and set itdown.

She regretted leaving the stone in her room. Usually it remained locked up, but to hold her own against Justin, she needed every bit of magick Father had infused into the stone. Yet the crystal had never glowedbefore.

Before she’d made love with Justin. Odd. Didthe jewel draw energy from theircoupling?

“It pulses with energy. Where did you getthis?”

“It was a gift to my father from my mother. I don’t know where she got it, but it’s filled with powerfulmagick.”

Oops. I shouldn’t have told himthat.

Justin picked up the chain. “Why does it hold so muchpower?”

Perhaps she’d tell him later. Ariel shrugged. “Does itmatter? Are you more interested in the contents of my jewelry box orme?”

She got her answer as Justin dropped the crystal back into the box, closed it and returned tobed.

His hard body felt warm and comforting as he gathered her into his arms. Justin kissed her. “Much as I want to make love to you again, you’re too sore. I canwait.”

Ariel drifted off to sleep. And thenthe dream came again – sounds of flapping wings overhead, a terriblecrunching…

Mama.No.

Writhing, she cried out, tears pouring down hercheeks.

“Sweet, wakeup.”

The deep voice tore her out of the nightmare, hurled her into the present. Ariel sat up, gripping the sheet. Sweat dripped down her back, hertemples.

He cupped her face in his strong hands. “You hada nightmare. You were screaming. Something about seeing so much blood. What isit?”

Blinking, she tried to regain her lost composure.Don’t tell him. He already has enough power overyou.

“A nightmare.” She shrugged. “I’mtired.”

She rolled over and shut her eyes, feeling Justin’s handdrop.

There could never be anything but sex between them. Because she’d already lostso much inlife.

And she had no plans to lose anything, or anyone else shecherished.

Eventually, Justin would leave. Now that she knew of its existence, the Drogmire had put a new, alarming twist on everything she neverknew.

And then her father would be fair game. Because Justin had only promised not to killhim.

He never said anything about letting another creaturedoit.